Tips to stop scope creep on .22 without loctite?

Everymanalion · January 24, 2017, 12:00 PM

So I am boderline stupid with it comes to using loctite, I seem to always make a mess of it no matter what and have had some drip onto receivers and had to work very hard to get it off on previous guns, I am having trouble with scope creep on a .22 rifle of mine using dovetail mounts, the screws are tightend properly and still having trouble, any ideas? Tired of having to resight my scope in every 50 or so shots:/ thank you.

dahermit · January 24, 2017, 01:15 PM

"dovetail mounts"...do you mean grooved receiver mount?
Where part of the scope/mount is moving. Where it is clamped onto the receiver or is the scope tube moving in the mount?

Everymanalion · January 24, 2017, 01:22 PM

The receiver clamps are moving forward, not the circular ones around the actual scope on top

T. O'Heir · January 24, 2017, 01:29 PM

They're either not tight enough or they don't fit quite right.
"...using Loctite..." Don't try to apply it directly out of the bottle. A toothpick with a drop on it will let you spread the stuff easily onto the screw threads. Only goes on the screws too. No need for it in the hole.
The circular ones are rings. The other part is the base/mount.

reinert · January 24, 2017, 02:11 PM

What T.O. said, and use the Blue Loc-tite (IMO). Pipe cleaners make good applicators, too.

jmr40 · January 24, 2017, 02:30 PM

You shouldn't need locktite for this. I've never had an issue with a 22 doing this, not enough recoil. Either you aren't getting the bases screwed on tight enough or the bases are defective. Which rifle?. Some have the option of using grooves or screw on bases. If possible buy some that screw on

Blindstitch · January 24, 2017, 02:43 PM

What rifle are you using? And are the rings old?

Doyle · January 24, 2017, 03:15 PM

What bases are you using? Some are MUCH better at holding .22 dovetails than others. Hint - if your grooves are the least bit too shallow then nothing you get at Walmart is likely to hold. You're going to have to go to a better quality base.

Snyper · January 24, 2017, 03:23 PM

Can you switch to screw on bases?

If not, you might try some friction tape under the clamps to add tension.
Loc-Tite is for screw threads and not much more.

JB Weld could be used as a last resort

spacemanspiff · January 24, 2017, 04:43 PM

I had a similar problem years back on a Marlin Papoose. Nail polish around the mounts helped keep it from drifting.

SHR970 · January 24, 2017, 08:15 PM

As said above.. nail polish is good if your ring bases aren't gripping the dovetail right. It makes for a cheap area lock and witness mark. It is also easy to remove if needed.. acetone or nail polish remover (colored acetone w/ scent) will pop it loose PDQ.

50 shooter · January 24, 2017, 08:21 PM

Look up scope ring rosin, it's a powder that you put on the inside edge of the rings. Place the scope in the rings and torque the screws down properly.

Doyle · January 24, 2017, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Look up scope ring rosin, it's a powder that you put on the inside edge of the rings. Place the scope in the rings and torque the screws down properly.

Scope sliding in the rings isn't the problem. It is the clamps on the 3/8" dovetail sliding that is the problem. I've seen this happen - especially when the grooves aren't cut just right and combined with cheaper rings that have weak clamps. The solution is to switch to stronger clamps. I'm partial to Warne.

bamaranger · January 25, 2017, 11:08 AM

Yeah, what Doyle said. We suspect that the rings are "brand X" and not gripping the grooves as they should.

Try a set of name rings, the most affordable set I'd start with would be Leupold's, Doyle likes, Warnes, Nikon is making rings these days too.

NoSecondBest · January 25, 2017, 01:05 PM

You need to tell what kind of gun you have. Lots of guessing going on here and the right piece of info hasn't beer requested before the answers started pouring out. There are two different sizes for grooved receivers. There are 3/8" and 11mm. Go to this web site and see what is available and what the differences are.
https://www.diproductsinc.com/defaul...GE=Main%20Page
I bought a CZ and had to make sure I got the correct size. Check this out before you go any further.
Note: 3/8" = .375 and 11mm = .433"

Doyle · January 25, 2017, 01:54 PM

NoSecondBest is correct. Got to figure out if it is American standard or European standard and match the rings to that.

Blindstitch · January 25, 2017, 03:54 PM

I think the rifle in question is a savage from his other question about savage warranty.

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=583567

Blindstitch · January 25, 2017, 03:59 PM

If it is a Savage I thought something like this might be a good idea.

http://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=923476

NoSecondBest · January 25, 2017, 04:20 PM

Blindstitch, you've got it with that mount. It is excellent!.

TheFriendlyMarksman · January 25, 2017, 10:45 PM

Don't use loctite. Just fit and torque the screws properly, and you won't have problems. Don't use el cheapo mounts. Talley rings are worth the money.

Legionnaire · January 27, 2017, 03:42 PM

The gorilla solution is a BKL unitized mount. I had one of these on a Savage 24 .22 Mag/20 gauge combo and it stood up to the 20 gauge recoil.

BKL Mounts.

g.willikers · January 29, 2017, 11:35 AM

Quote:

There are two different sizes for grooved receivers. There are 3/8" and 11mm.

And the sellers often don't know this either.
If memory serves, the 11 mm mounts are more popular for air rifles but often sold for rimfires.
Some will supposedly fit either or, but in my experience, not very well.

NoSecondBest · January 29, 2017, 12:06 PM

Quote:

And the sellers often don't know this either.
If memory serves, the 11 mm mounts are more popular for air rifles but often sold for rimfires.
Some will supposedly fit either or, but in my experience, not very well.

Correct. You can usually get the 11mm on the 3/8" receiver, but not the other way around. The sellers could do a lot better job if they knew this themselves as you stated. Let's just get the word out that there are actually two sizes since the people selling this stuff don't seem to be doing it very well. Good comments on your part.

Ifishsum · January 29, 2017, 01:20 PM

Screw-on standard bases are the answer if you are able to get them for your rifle. Semi-auto .22s and the built-in grooved receiver mounts almost always seem to have that problem sooner or later.

rootie3 · February 2, 2017, 06:20 PM

Whered you go, everymanalion? Please let us know if you solved the problem. I agree that this is a rare problem with a .22. How tight are you tighening the screws? Are the scope rings the right size for the scope? Do you own a torque screwdriver? Lotsa good info here but you need to reply for us to help any further...

Larry

January 24, 2017, 12:00 PM	#1
Everymanalion Member Join Date: September 26, 2014 Posts: 22	Tips to stop scope creep on .22 without loctite? So I am boderline stupid with it comes to using loctite, I seem to always make a mess of it no matter what and have had some drip onto receivers and had to work very hard to get it off on previous guns, I am having trouble with scope creep on a .22 rifle of mine using dovetail mounts, the screws are tightend properly and still having trouble, any ideas? Tired of having to resight my scope in every 50 or so shots:/ thank you.

January 24, 2017, 01:29 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	They're either not tight enough or they don't fit quite right. "...using Loctite..." Don't try to apply it directly out of the bottle. A toothpick with a drop on it will let you spread the stuff easily onto the screw threads. Only goes on the screws too. No need for it in the hole. The circular ones are rings. The other part is the base/mount. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 24, 2017, 02:30 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	You shouldn't need locktite for this. I've never had an issue with a 22 doing this, not enough recoil. Either you aren't getting the bases screwed on tight enough or the bases are defective. Which rifle?. Some have the option of using grooves or screw on bases. If possible buy some that screw on __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

January 24, 2017, 03:23 PM	#9
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	Can you switch to screw on bases? If not, you might try some friction tape under the clamps to add tension. Loc-Tite is for screw threads and not much more. JB Weld could be used as a last resort __________________ One shot, one kill

January 24, 2017, 04:43 PM	#10
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	I had a similar problem years back on a Marlin Papoose. Nail polish around the mounts helped keep it from drifting. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

January 24, 2017, 01:15 PM	#2
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	"dovetail mounts"...do you mean grooved receiver mount? Where part of the scope/mount is moving. Where it is clamped onto the receiver or is the scope tube moving in the mount?

January 24, 2017, 01:22 PM	#3
Everymanalion Member Join Date: September 26, 2014 Posts: 22	The receiver clamps are moving forward, not the circular ones around the actual scope on top

January 24, 2017, 02:11 PM	#5
reinert Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 646	What T.O. said, and use the Blue Loc-tite (IMO). Pipe cleaners make good applicators, too.

January 24, 2017, 02:43 PM	#7
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	What rifle are you using? And are the rings old?

January 24, 2017, 03:15 PM	#8
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	What bases are you using? Some are MUCH better at holding .22 dovetails than others. Hint - if your grooves are the least bit too shallow then nothing you get at Walmart is likely to hold. You're going to have to go to a better quality base.

January 24, 2017, 08:15 PM	#11
SHR970 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 1,427	As said above.. nail polish is good if your ring bases aren't gripping the dovetail right. It makes for a cheap area lock and witness mark. It is also easy to remove if needed.. acetone or nail polish remover (colored acetone w/ scent) will pop it loose PDQ.

January 24, 2017, 08:21 PM	#12
50 shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: SoCal PRK Posts: 986	Look up scope ring rosin, it's a powder that you put on the inside edge of the rings. Place the scope in the rings and torque the screws down properly. __________________ I see the world thru bloodshot eyes Streets filled with blood from distant lies The dogs of war never compromise, No time for rearranging.

January 25, 2017, 11:08 AM	#14
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	yup! Yeah, what Doyle said. We suspect that the rings are "brand X" and not gripping the grooves as they should. Try a set of name rings, the most affordable set I'd start with would be Leupold's, Doyle likes, Warnes, Nikon is making rings these days too.

January 25, 2017, 01:05 PM	#15
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	You need to tell what kind of gun you have. Lots of guessing going on here and the right piece of info hasn't beer requested before the answers started pouring out. There are two different sizes for grooved receivers. There are 3/8" and 11mm. Go to this web site and see what is available and what the differences are. https://www.diproductsinc.com/defaul...GE=Main%20Page I bought a CZ and had to make sure I got the correct size. Check this out before you go any further. Note: 3/8" = .375 and 11mm = .433" Last edited by NoSecondBest; January 25, 2017 at 01:11 PM.

January 25, 2017, 01:54 PM	#16
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	NoSecondBest is correct. Got to figure out if it is American standard or European standard and match the rings to that.

January 25, 2017, 03:54 PM	#17
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	I think the rifle in question is a savage from his other question about savage warranty. https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=583567

January 25, 2017, 03:59 PM	#18
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	If it is a Savage I thought something like this might be a good idea. http://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=923476

January 25, 2017, 04:20 PM	#19
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Blindstitch, you've got it with that mount. It is excellent!.

January 25, 2017, 10:45 PM	#20
TheFriendlyMarksman Member Join Date: January 25, 2017 Posts: 33	Don't use loctite. Just fit and torque the screws properly, and you won't have problems. Don't use el cheapo mounts. Talley rings are worth the money.

January 27, 2017, 03:42 PM	#21
Legionnaire Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2000 Location: Central TX Posts: 1,503	The gorilla solution is a BKL unitized mount. I had one of these on a Savage 24 .22 Mag/20 gauge combo and it stood up to the 20 gauge recoil. BKL Mounts. __________________ Cogito, ergo armatus sum.

January 29, 2017, 01:20 PM	#24
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	Screw-on standard bases are the answer if you are able to get them for your rifle. Semi-auto .22s and the built-in grooved receiver mounts almost always seem to have that problem sooner or later.

February 2, 2017, 06:20 PM	#25
rootie3 Junior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Posts: 9	.22 scope mount problem Whered you go, everymanalion? Please let us know if you solved the problem. I agree that this is a rare problem with a .22. How tight are you tighening the screws? Are the scope rings the right size for the scope? Do you own a torque screwdriver? Lotsa good info here but you need to reply for us to help any further... Larry